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Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) Event Records

Date Type: Subtype Occupation Location Enslaver Role Brief Description Source
1772   Labor: Agricultural Monticello Recorded care requirements and work of cattle and horses. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 73
1772   Labor: Manual Monticello Recorded the labor for processing wood and calculated building materials. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 104
1773   Labor: Manual Monticello Recorded labor and progress for installing fencing and grading roads. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 70
1774   FreedomStatus: Transfer Acquirer Received enslaved people from his father's will. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 10
1774   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Records locations of 187 enslaved people across his properties. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 15
1774   Provisions: Supplies Distribution of blankets, beds, and clothing to enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 19
1774   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Recorded births and deaths of enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 21
1774   Labor: Agricultural Monticello Authored articles for contracts with overseers and their management. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 76
1774   Labor: Agricultural Monticello Authored articles noting the management, provisions for, and housing of enslaved laborers. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 77
1774 Jan. 14 Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Authored list "A Roll of the proper slaves" Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 9
1774 Jan. 14 FreedomStatus: Transfer Acquirer Received enslaved people during the division of John Wayles's estate. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 11
1775   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Recorded births and deaths of enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 22
1776   Monticello Authored the Farm Book. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 1
1776   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Recorded births and deaths of enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 26
1776   Provisions: Supplies Monticello Recorded "Number of souls in my family in Albemarle" and bedding distribution. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 27
1778   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Recorded births and deaths of enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 28
1782   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Recorded births, deaths, and losses during war with Britain. Recorded overseers hired. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 29
1783   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Took roll of people at Monticello, Elk Hill, Willis Creek, and Poplar Forest. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 24
1784   FreedomStatus: Sale Monticello Seller Sold or transferred over 160 enslaved people between 1784 and 1794. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 25
1792   Labor: Manual Monticello Recorded construction process of buildings. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 102
1794   Labor: Manual Monticello Calculated nailery production per person. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 111
1794 Nov.  Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Authored plantation roll and planned location of people for the following year. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 30
1794 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Calculated fabric requirements for clothing. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 41
1795   Provisions: Food Monticello Authored bread distribution list. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 43
1795   Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded estimates of oats and corn needed at Monticello and Shadwell. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 44
1795   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing to enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 49
1795 May  Labor: Manual Monticello Authored diary discussing farming operations. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 45
1795 Dec.  Labor: Agricultural Monticello Recorded farming operations and supplies distributed to workers. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 47
1795 Dec.  Labor: Manual Monticello Recorded labor and progress of grading roads. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 69
1796   Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded distribution of bread amongst overseers and enslaved community. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 50
1796   Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded distribution of rations. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 51
1796   Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded distribution of fish at Monticello and Shadwell. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 53
1796   Labor: Agricultural Monticello Recorded farming operations and births of enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 54
1796   Labor: Agricultural Monticello Records management of orchards, including advice received from George Granger. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 96
1797 May  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded clothing, bedding, and bread distribution lists for Monticello and Shadwell. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 52
1798   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Authored plantation roll and recorded distribution of fish and beef. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 57
1799   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Recorded births of enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 31
1799   Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded distribution of fish and beef. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 56
1799 Oct.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 55
1800   Labor: Agricultural Monticello Recorded duties assigned to people during harvest. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 58
1800 Nov.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 58a
1801   Commercial: Enslaved_hire Monticello HiringOut Leased 47 enslaved people to John H. Craven. Authored plantation roll in Bedford. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 60
1803   Provisions: Supplies Monticello Authored blanket distribution list. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 39
1805 Nov.  Provisions: Supplies Monticello Recorded distribution of blankets. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 59
1809 Aug. 25 Travel: Temporary Sends Davy to Washington D.C. to retrieve half a pound of Sal-Ammoniac by cart. Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes
1810   Labor: Agricultural Monticello Recorded the construction and necessary labor for operating a mill. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 106
1810   Labor: Manual Monticello Miscellaneous notes, including barrel making, terracing, and calculations of Thruston Hern's plowing speed. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 123
1810   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Authored plantation roll in Albemarle County sorted by age. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 130
1810   Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Authored plantation roll in Bedford County organized by age. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 131
1810   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of hats and sifters. Recorded division of labor during wheat harvest. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 143
1810 Feb.  Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Authored plantation roll of Monticello, Tufton, and Lego. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 128
1810 Feb.  Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded distribution of bread at Monticello, Tufton, and Lego. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 134
1810 Apr.  Commercial: Enslaved_inventory Monticello Authored plantation roll in Bedford County. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 129
1810 June 25 Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded hogs killed and the distribution of their meat to overseers, enslaved people, and other residents. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 135
1810 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 136
1811   Labor: Agricultural Monticello House Annual plans for crop fields at Lego. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 125
1811   Provisions: Supplies Monticello Recorded distribution of blankets, beds, pots, and sifters. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 137
1811 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of blankets and future allocations. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 142
1812   Labor: Artisanal Monticello Recorded carpentry work of John Hemmings and Lewis. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 114
1812 Sept. 23 Commercial: Enslaved_loan Loaner Sends Joseph Fossett to perform unspecified work for Mary Lewis. Mary Lewis to Thomas Jefferson
1812 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 139
1813   Labor: Artisanal Monticello Estimate of spinning and weaving work done daily. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 116
1813 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 144
1813 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Calculated materials for clothing needed based on number of men, women, and children enslaved. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 145
1814   Provisions: Housing Monticello Recorded farming operations and construction of Bagwell Granger's house. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 67
1814   Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded distribution of bread, weight of hogs, and consumption of rations. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 148
1814 Nov. 14 Labor: Domestic Sent Burwell Colbert to Lynchburg to purchase goods and "a 5. dollar note to get changed." Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah A. Goodman
1814 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 146
1815   Labor: Artisanal Monticello Calculations of fiber work and crop planting. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 152
1815 June 26 Provisions: Food Monticello Provided whiskey and mutton for laborers during wheat harvest. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 149
1815 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 150
1816   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 154
1816 Feb. 08 Health: Illness Cared for by Burwell Colbert during his illness. Elizabeth Trist to Thomas Jefferson
1817   Provisions: Food Monticello List of people for distribution of bread. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 156
1817   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 158
1817   Commercial: Enslaved_hire Monticello HiringOut Leased 60 people to Thomas J. Randolph. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 160
1818   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 162
1818 Jan. 11 Labor: Agricultural Monticello Writes to overseer of Poplar Forest delegating tasks to several enslaved people. Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey
1819   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 164
1819   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of blankets and beds. Calculated materials needed for clothing based on number of men, women, and children. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 165
1819   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 166
1819   Provisions: Clothing Bear Creek Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Calculated material needed for clothing based on number of men, women, and children. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 167
1819   Provisions: Supplies Poplar Forest Recorded distribution of blankets and beds. Calculated material needed for clothing based on number of men, women, and children. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 168
1819 July 28 Health: Medical_treatment Monticello Hires a doctor to care for Burwell Colbert, who is extremely ill. Extract from Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph
1820 Apr. 09 FreedomStatus: Exchange Monticello Transferred Lucy and her five children to Thomas J. Randolph in exchange for Sally, her three children, Beck, and her two children. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 161
1821   Provisions: Supplies Monticello Recorded distribution of blankets. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 169
1821   Provisions: Food Monticello Recorded distribution of bread and corn. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 171
1821   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Calculated materials for clothing based on number of men, women, and children. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 172
1821 Aug. 15 Labor: Domestic Monticello Gives notice for Hannah and Maria "to have the house...in order for us." Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey
1822   Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 174
1822 Dec. 23 Violence: Punishment Bedford County Gawen, Billy, and Hercules are charged with the stabbing of overseer William Gough. Bedford County Trial Proceedings for Poplar Forest Slaves Gawen, Billy, and Hercules in Assault on William Gough, Overseer
1823 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 175
1824 Dec.  Provisions: Clothing Monticello Recorded distribution of clothing and bedding. Recorded number of men, women, and children. Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 176